Circuit actuating means for computer type golf games



EMM RWM www REFERENCE Oct. 31, 1967 M. R, SPE-ISEF;

CIRCUIT ACTUATING MEANS FOR COMPUTER TYPE GOLF' GAMES Filed May 27, 1965 IMPACT CO M DUTED United States Patent O 3,349,620 CIRCUIT ACTUATING MEANS FOR COMPUTER TYPE GOLF GAMES Maximilian Richard Speiser, 17 W. 60th St., New York, N.Y. 10023 Filed May 27, 1965, Ser. No. 459,160 1 Claim. (Cl. 73-379) This invention relates generally to the field of computer-type golf games of the class exemplified by my prior Patent No. 3,091,466, granted May 28, 1963, and more particularly t-o improved means for receiving a signal upon impact between the golf ball and the net which arrests further ight of the ball, such signal indicating to the computer the end of the trajectory whereby the computer may determine elapsed ight time in terms of projected yardage.

In the above-mentioned Patent No. 3,091,466 the net is equipped with photoelectric cells disposed opposite corresponding light beam-producing means, movement of the net within the light beam affecting the intensity of light falling upon the cells, and thus afecting the current generated by such cells. While this system has proven effective, it is relatively costly and rather delicate. A stray golf ball may directly Contact the cells themselves, causing damage necessitating replacement of one or more cells.

In accordance with the present invention, it is among the principal objects thereof to provide an improved means which may be employed to Ireplace both the photoelectric -cells and the means producing light beams falling thereupon with a simple inexpensive device providing the same function.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved signal-generating means which may replace all of the photoelectric cells employed in prior art constructions.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved signal-generating means of the type described which may be relatively insensitive to shock.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a signal-generating means which may be mounted directing upon the movable portion of the ball-arresting net, so that the impact of the net at any portion thereof is transmitted directly to said signal-generating means.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional View of the circuit-actuating means which comprises a part of the embodiment.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram showing the interconnection of the structure of FIGURE 2 with the computer of a computer-type golf game.

FIGURE 4 is a generated wave diagram.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, is illustrated in FIG- URE 1 of the drawing in installed condition upon a ballarresting net or screen 11 which forms a part of a computer-type golf game, reference again being made to my prior Patent No. 3,091,466 which discloses other details ICC of the same. As is known in the art, the screen 11 is placed directly in front of a display screen 12 which carries a representation of a golf green or fairway.

The screen 11 is generally angularly disposed with respect to the vertical for the purpose of deecting balls downwardly, and is bounded by an upper edge 13, a lower edge 14, and side edges 15 and 16 which are secured to rods 17 and 18, respectively. The rods 17 and 18 are in turn supported from supporting members 19 and 20, each having a base 21 and a rod-like portion 22 which mounts interconnecting springs 23, as is known in the art.

The device 10 is mounted within a housing 25 (see FIGURE 2), the housing 25 in turn being interconnected to the rod 18 by clamp means (not shown) of well-known type. The housing 25 includes an upper wall 27, a lower wall 23, and a cylindrical wall 29 which supports a mounting plate 30.

The plate 30 supports an inductive coil 31, which may be part of a simple relay 32, for purposes of convenience. The coil 3l includes an iron core 33 about which the windings of the coil 31 are wound. Adjacent the coil 31 and mounted on the plate 30 is a tlat spring steel member 34 supporting a permanent magnet 35 at the end thereof. The coil 31 is connected through an amplifier 37 to the computer 38.

lUpon impact of a ball upon the screen 11, a wave form 39 (see FIGURE 4) is generated in the coil. From the point of impact 40 to the point of maximum amplitude 41, there elapses less than one millisecond, this portion of the wave form being used to operate the computer 33 through the ampliiier 37. The damped oscillation portion 42 may be disregarded.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

In a computer type golf game including a net for arresting the ight of a ball and computer means for determining elapsed time of iiight of said ball, improved means for indicating the instant at which said ball contacts said net comprising: said net being of a flexible material and having oppositely disposed side edges, a pair of elongated relatively rigid rods interconnected to said net along said side edges, a pair of fixed elongated supporting members having principal axes paralleling that of said rods, and a plurality of springs interconnecting said rods and said supporting members along the lengths thereof, a lhousing secured to one of said rods, an inductive coil disposed within said housing and connected to said computer means, and a magnet resiliently supported within said housing in the area of said coil.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,557,550 6/1951 Leaver et al 73-379 2,702,883 2/1955 Petroff et al. 73-7l.2 2,764,019 9/1956 Lindholm et al 73-7l.2 3,091,466 5/1963 Speiser 73-379 3,160,011 12/1964 Ogden 73-379 JAMES I. GILL, Acting Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C..QUEISSER, Examiner.

I. H. WILLIAMSON, Assistant Examiner. 

